Famed national and regional researcher and research manager, Dr. William D. Dar, recently visited the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Dar served as PCAARRD Executive Director from 1994 to 1997 and now serves as country representative of Prasad Seeds Philippines Inc. (PSPI).
With Dar were Prasad Seeds Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ashok Jha; Prasad Seeds Africa CEO, Dr. Dileepkumar Guntuku; USAID Activity Manager, Ms. Grace Sebugah; and government officials from Ghana.
Dr. Lilian G. Bondoc, PCAARRD-Policy Coordination and Monitoring Division Director, provided a briefing about the Council.
Meanwhile, in response to the request of the guests for a discussion on hybrid rice and corn as well as on the upscaling of technologies for seed production, Angelito T. Carpio, PCAARRD-Crops Research Division Senior Science Research Specialist, presented the Industry Strategic S&T Programs (ISPs) on rice and corn.
The various interventions on rice implemented by PCAARRD focused on increasing access to high-quality seeds (HQS); developing and production of plant growth promoter/elicitor; improving water management and soil test calibration techniques; and developing standards and machine prototypes that are pilot-tested and ready for commercialization.
The guests showed interest on the program and development of carrageenan as a plant growth promoter (PGP) for rice, which is among PCAARRD’s interventions to increase rice yield.
Noel A. Catibog, Officer-in-Charge (OIC), together with Ms. Abigail F. Gueco, Science Research Specialist II of PCAARRD’s Technology Transfer and Promotion Division (TTPD), presented the general technology transfer and commercialization framework of the Council and specific interventions on rice.
Catibog also shared with the guests the advocacy of PCAARRD on technology commercialization and the rationale behind the institutionalization of the DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center (DPITC). He also shared the numerous activities and accomplishments of DPITC.
PSPI, a unit of Prasad Seeds Private Limited (PSPL), is based in Rosales, Pangasinan. PSPL is India’s largest outsourced partner in providing seed processing infrastructure facilities.